One of the fastest growing plants in the world is bamboo. It can be found in Asian rain forests.  A bamboo plant can grow 6-15 inches a day,  and can reach heights as tall as 120 feet .  Bamboo is hard like wood, but it is actually a member of the grass family. Bamboo is used in the tropics to build houses, rafts, and bridges.  Bamboo is also used to make mats, hats, fish traps, chopsticks, and musical instruments.